Multiple tool attachment

ABSTRACT

An attachment for quick mounting on the bucket of earth working equipment such as back hoes and loaders comprising a pair of spaced, parallel C-shaped plates each having two arms connected by a bight, a bearing bar between said plates and in the space between the arms loosely carried by a turn screw for movement toward one pair of arms to removably clamp the attachment to a bucket, the attachment having transverse holes and rods to removably support alternately useable tools. Tools disclosed are a scraper blade and pneumatic hammer. In an alternate embodiment, the bearing bar is carried by a support bar extending through and captured in an elongate opening in the C-shaped plates, and is engageable by a turn screw carried by a nut between the plates; a locking device is provided including a star-wheel secured to the screw and socket tubes for receiving a locking pin passed between the teeth of the star wheel.

United States Patent 1 1 Guest 1 1 MULTIPLE TOOL ATTACHMENT [76] Inventor: William H. Guest, Apt P7-5,

Panther Valley, Hackettstown, NJ. 07840 [22] Filed: Sept. 11, 1973 21 Appl. No.: 396,265

Related U.S. Application Data [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 266,097, June 26.

1972, abandoned.

[52] U.S. C1 24/243 CC, 24/263 A [51] Int. Cl. A44b 21/00, E02f 3/76 [58] Field of Search 24/243 CC, 243 B, 263 LS, 24/263 A, 248 SA; 16/111 A, 144; 37/117.5; 172/777; 248/226 C [451 Feb. 11,1975

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 280,621 11/1927 Great Britain 16/144 103,274 l/1964 Norway 24/248 SA Primary Examiner-Donald A. Griffin Attorney, Agent, or Firmlrvin A. Lavine [57] ABSTRACT An attachment for quick mounting on the bucket of earth working equipment such as back hoes and loaders comprising a pair of spaced, parallel C-shaped plates each having two arms connected by a bight, a bearing bar between said plates and in the space between the arms loosely carried by a turn screw for movement toward one pair of arms to removably clamp the attachment to a bucket, the attachment having transverse holes and rods to removably support alternately useable tools. Tools disclosed are a scraper blade and pneumatic hammer. In an alternate embodiment, the bearing bar is carried by a support bar extending through and captured in an elongate opening in the C-shaped plates, and is engageable by a turn screw carried by a nut between the plates; a locking device is provided including a star-wheel secured to the screw and socket tubes for receiving a locking pin passed between the teeth of the star wheel.

18 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTEU 3, 864793 sum 2 or 2 MULTIPLE TOOL ATTACHMENT CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application is a continuation-in-part of copending application Ser. No. 266,097, filed June 26, 1972, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to earth working equipment, and more particularly to attachment devices for supporting any one of multiple selected earth working tools on the bucket of earth working equipment, such as a back hoe or loader.

Back hoes have long been used for such purposes as removing dirt to form a trench, or to remove dirt accumulating in the bottom of a trench, whereas loaders have been used to move dirt or similar material, as by lifting it, from ground level into a truck or the like, for transport. These pieces of equipment are widely used by various types of contractors, including those engaged in street repair and reconstruction, bridge renovation, and the like. Such work often requires the utilization of other tools, to perform a function which can not be performed by the basic earth working equipment being employed, such as the back hoe or loader. For example, it is often required that concrete pavement be broken or that hard frozen ground be penetrated by a tool such as a wedge. Such operations, and others, require the use of a hammer, and pneumatic hammers are widely used for this purpose. In many instances it is desirable to support the pneumatic hammer on the earth working equipment, such as on the back hoe, and to that end there have been proposed various modifications of earth working equipment to accommodate a pneumatic hammer. Generally, these modifications have required the provision of specially designed buckets, or have required modification of the existing bucket, such as by welding fixtures thereon.

Another function which is often required in such noted work is the scraping of broken dirt, as into a pile, or for filling a trench or other cavity, this action requiring a scraper blade. Similar deficiencies have been encountered with regard to the provision of scraper blades onto buckets.

Various other auxilary functions have been required, and efforts have been made to provide attachments for tools of various types, to perform them. In general, these have all suffered from one or more defect, such as alteration of the bucket by the welding on or fixtures or the like; this was very expensive, since in order to provide adequate flexibility of operations, all of the buckets being used on a particular job would have to have fixtures added to them, because otherwise, that piece of earth working equipment which was modified to provide a pneumatic hammer, for example, would have to be moved, depending upon which location that the tool was needed. Further, it has been found that the fixtures or alterations often interfere with the normal use of the bucket, so that the solution thus proposed has not been satisfactory. Another deficiency was that considerable time was required to convert earth working equipment from its normal operation to operation of the specialized type involving the additional tool, and this has often proven to be impracical because of the fact that the special tool is only required to be used for a very short period of time. Hence, the time spent in attaching the special tool to the bucket and then detaching it has often been considerably longer than the actual period of use of the attached tool. Still further, the suggestions of the prior art have all been for unitary attachments providing for the conversion or addition to a bucket of an attachment of a particular type, so that where a user had need for the use of different tools at different times, there were required different modifications of buckets and the like, thereby seriously limiting the flexibility of the equipment and significantly increasing cost beyond that which was justifiable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides an attachment which may be quickly mounted onto the bucket of earth working equipment such as a back hoe or a loader, and which attachment may support any of a plurality of tools, as may be required. The attachment is in the form of a generally C-shaped structure having a pair of spaced arms with a slot between them, the bottom of the earth working equipment bucket being received in the slot. Preferably, the C-shaped structure comprises a pair of substantially identical C-shaped plates in parallel spaced apart relationship. Across one arm of the C-shaped structure there extends a pair of bearing bars for engaging a surface of the bucket plate, and for providing stability. Mounted on the opposite arm of the C- shaped structure is a nut which receives a threaded rod, carrying a bearing member at one end and a handle at the other end, so that the manipulation of the handle will cause the threaded rod to advance and thereby move the bearing means toward the noted bearing bars. The bearing means is preferably in the form of an I beam having a neoprene pad secured to one flange thereof, for engagement with the bucket plate, and having a universal-type mounting to the threaded rod so as to permit some limited degree of movement of the bearing means or bearing pad to thereby insure engagement with bucket plates with different shapes, thicknesses and configuration. The noted handle is preferably in the form of a first member having an extension member or members pivoted to it, which exttension members can occupy either an in-line position with the handle member to provide for rotation of the threaded rod, or a position transverse thereto in which it will engage the structure and prevent inadvertent loosening of the threaded rod. The C-shaped structure is provided with transverse holes and pipes for attachment of tools, such as a pneumatic hammer or a scraper blade.

in an alternate embodiment, the bearing member is in the form of three spaced, parallel plates, one intermediate the C-shaped plates and the other two on the outsides thereof. An elongate slot in one arm of the C- shaped structure, transverse to the slot which receives the bucket plate, has a bar extending through it which is connected to the back or upper edges of the plates of the bearing member. A screw applies clamping force to the bearing member through the bar. The bearing member has transverse bars at the lower edges, front and back, connected by a rider bar parallel to the bearing bar plates. A locking device for the screw includes a star wheel secured to the screw and plural sockets for selectively receiving a pin placeable therein and through an opening between teeth of the star wheel.

Among the objects of the present invention, therefore, are to provide an attachment for the bucket of earth working equipment which can be quickly applied to the equipment, and quickly removed therefrom. An-

other object of the present invention is to provide an attachment for earth working equipment buckets to which any of a number of different tools can be applied. A still further object of the present invention is to provide one of a number of selected tools which will require no modification or change to the bucket on which it is supported. A still further object of the present invention is the provision of an attachment which will require no tools, such as wrenches, pliers and the like for attachment to and removal from an earth working equipment bucket. A still further object is the provision of an attachment which will be positively locked to the bucket of earth working equipment, and which will be secure against movement or inadvertent loosening thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a back bucket with an attachment in accordance with the present invention secured thereto, and carrying a pneumatic hammer.

FIG. 2 is a view of the present invention attachment, having a scraper blade secured thereto.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the attachment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 4 is an elevational view thereof.

FIG. 5 is an elevational view of an alternate embodiment in accordance with the present invention, having a pneumatic hammer secured thereto, and shown broken away.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 7--7 of FIG. 5, and showing a detail of a locking construction.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawings, wherein like or corre sponding reference numerals are used to designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, there is shown in FIG. 1 a portion of a standard and conventional back hoe, including a bucket B, having the side plates broken away, the bucket B is carried by support arm structure, also broken away, as will be readily understood. The bucket B has a digging edge provided with teeth T.

Secured to the bucket B is an attachment 10 in accordance with the present invention, the attachment 10 supporting a carrier C for a pneumatic hammer H. The pneumatic hammer is of conventional construction, and will have air conduit means connecting it to a source of compressed air, and to controls, all in known fashion. The pneumatic hammer H will be seen to carry at its lower end a standard demolition point P, it being understood of course that various other types of operating implements may be connected with the pneumatic hammer H.

Referring now to FIG. 2, there is shown the attachment 10 having connected to it a carrier C to which is connected a scraper blade S. As will be understood, when the pneumatic hammer H is supported on the attachment l0, pavement breaking, frozen earth breakup and similar functions may be performed, while when the scraper blade S is carried by the attachment l0, filling operations and similar work can be performed. It will be understood, of course, that while two specific 4 tools have been illustrated, it is contemplated that other tools can be utilized with the attachment l0 disclosed herein.

Referring now to FIG. 3, the attachment 10 is shown to comprise a pair of plates 12 and 14, which are of substantially the same size and shape, and which are in spaced parallel relationship. Plates l2 and 14 are preferably of a suitably strong material, such as steel. The C-shaped plate 12, for example, comprises a first or upper arm 16 and a second or lower arm 18, integrally connected by a bight portion 20. Between the arm 16 and 18 there is provided a slot, and it is in this slot that there is positioned, as shown in FIG. 1, the bottom plate ofa bucket B ofa back hoe, although the slot may receive instead the plate ofa bucket loader. Carried on the second arm 18 of the plate 12, and the corresponding arm of the plate 14 are transverse bearing bars 32 and 34, those bearing bars extending laterally of the plates 12 and 14 so as to distribute the load onto the bottom plate of the bucket, and to provide stability against twisting.

For supporting the carrier C or C there are provided in the lower arms of the plates 12 and 14 a pair of aligned holes, reference being had to hole 36 in lower arm 18 of plate 12. In addition, there is provided a transversely extending bar 38 also extending from the lower arm 18, it being understood that the plate 14 is provided with a similar hole and bar. The carriers, C, C may be supported on the attachment 10, through use of apertures in the carrier and bars for penetrating the hole 36, as will be understood.

Carried in the slot between the upper and lower arms is a bearing element generally designated 40, in the form of an I-beam which extends in the direction of the slot above the bearing bars 32 and 34 and between the plates 12 and 14. On its lower flange 42, the bearing or l-beam 40 is provided with a pad 44 of a resilient material, neoprene rubber being preferred.

Referring now to FIG. 4, there may be seen the attachment 10, with a portion of the upper arm 16 of the plate 12 broken away, so as to reveal the upper arm 16' of the plate 14. Extending between and secured to the first or upper arms 16 and 16' is a downwardly facing channel 52 in which is secured a nut 54. A threaded rod 56 is threaded into the nut 54, and supports the bearingor l-beam 40 at its lower end. There is provided a connection between the threaded rod 56 and the I-beam 40 which will permit the I-beam 40 to have some movement in the plane of the drawing relative to the rod 56. This may be accomplished by providing a hole 46 through the upper flange of the I-beam and into the web thereof, this hole 46 receiving an extension 58 of the rodd 56 which is of reduced cross sections, and which extension 58 has at its lower end an enlarged head 62. This head 62 is spaced from the lower end of the rod 56 a distance somewhat greater than the length of the hole 46, and thereby there is provided the noted movement, the head 62 being suficiently large so as to prevent removal of the bearing I-beam 40 from the rod 56. With this construction, the bearing l-beam 40 will be permitted to assume a position so that it fully engages the upper surface of the bottom plate of a bucket B, even where the bottom plate is of tapering thickness, as is often the case. Secured to the l-beam 40, at its right hand end as viewed in FIG. 4, is a guide plate 48 which rides in slots in the first or upper arms of the plates 12 and 14, there being shown in FIG. 4 a slot or groove 64 in the inner face of the upper arm 16' of plate 14.

Referring again to FIG. 3, the threaded rod 56 has secured to its upper end, as by welding, a handle generally designated 70, in the form of a pair of spaced parallel plates 72 and 74. Near the ends of the plates 72 and 74 are extension members 76 and 78, pivotally connected to the plates 72 and 74 by pivot pins 82 and 84. A bar 88 extends transversely of and is welded to the plates 12 and 14 near the rod 56, but spaced therefrom. As shown in FIG. 3, any tendency of the rod 56 to turn in a counter clockwise direction, to thereby raise the I-beam bearing 40 would be limited by engagement of extension 76 with the end of the bar 88, in the position as shown in FIG. 3. In FIG. 4, the extension 78 will be seen to be between the plates 12 and 14, so that inadvertent unloosening of the rod 56 in bearing 40 is thereby prevented.

In use, an attachment as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 will have a carrier C or C, or other similar carrier secured thereto, with the bar 38 and its corresponding bar extending through openings in the carrier and with suitable pins or the like extending into the hole 36 and corresponding hole in the plate 14. Then the assemblage, such as shown in FIG. 2 will be applied quickly, and without use of additional hand tools, to the bucket of a back hoe or loader, such as the bucket B shown in FIG. 1. The extensions 76 and 78 will be generally aligned with the plates 72 and 74, and the handle 70 turned, to thereby rotate the rod 56 and cause movement of the bearing I-beam 40 toward the upper surface of the bottom plate of the bucket, which bottom plate will at this point be extending into the slot between the arms 16 and 18. If the buckets are provided with teeth, such as the tooth shown in FIG. 1, one of them will be permitted to pass between the bights of the plates 12 and 14, and the other teeth of the back hoe bucket will pass on either side of the plates 12 and 14. The bearing bars 32 and 34 will engage with the under side of the bottom plate, and as the handle is turned the bearing I-beam 40 will be caused to press against the upper surface of the bottom plate of the bucket, the resilient pad 44 engaging the upper surface and being somewhat compressed as the handle is turned to tighten the attachment 10 onto the bucket B. Where the bucket bottom plate is tapered, the above noted connection between the bearing I-beam 40 and the threaded rod 56 will permit adjustment and accomodation of the latter to the upper surface of the bucket bottom plate, so as to make substantial surface engagement and contact to thereby securely fix the attachment 10 to the bucket. The attachment 10 as herein disclosed may be applied to a bucket in a relatively small amount of time, in the order of two minutes, as distinguished from the previously known equipment where the attachment has required fifteen to thirty minutes. The attachment 10 will be secured and the rod 56 will be prevented from turning in a loosening direction, by the above referenced construction of the handle, including the pivot extensions 76 and 78.

Referring now to FIG. 5, there may be seen an alternate embodiment of the present invention, and comprising an attachment generally designated 100, which is similar to the attachment 10 in that it is a structure which is generally C-shaped, made up of a pair of plates, one plate 102 of which may be seen in FIG. 5, and the other plate being shown in FIG. 6. The plate 102 may be provided with a reinforcement 106, and a similar reinforcement 108 may be applied to the plate 104. The attachment 100, like the attachment 10, comprises an upper arm 116 and a lower arm I18. there being a pneumatic hammer H, shown broken away in FIG. 5, attached to the lower arm 118, in a manner similar to the attachment of the pneumatic hammer H to the lower arm of the attachment 10. At the bottom of the slot between the arms 116 and 118 there may be seen a pair of transverse bearing bars 132 and 134. These are similar to the transverse bearing bars 32 and 34 of the attachment 10.

Carried in the slot between the upper arm 116 and the lower arm 118 is a bearing element generally designated 140, including a first plate 142 which lies outwardly and in closely adjacent, parallel relationship to the C-shaped plate 102. A second intermediate bearing member plate 144 lies between the plates 102 and 104 of the C-shaped structure, and a third plate 146 lies outwardly of the plate 104 of the C-shaped structure. The three parallel plates 142, 144 and 146 have secured to them at their lower edges a front transverse bar 148, and a rear transverse bar 150. Extendding between the transverse bars 148 and 150 is a rider bar 152. Rider bar 152 is beneath the plates 142, 144 and 146, and is generally parallel to them.

An elongate slot 154 is provided in the upper arm 116, formed by the plates 102 and 104. Slot 154 extends generally transverse to the slot between the arms 116 and 118, and a transverse bar 156 extends through the slot 154, the bar 156 being welded to the back or upper edges of the three plates 142, 144 and 146 forming the bearing member 140. Since the plates forming the bearing member 140 are laterally spaced from the plates forming the C-shaped structure, and since the bar 156 is smaller than the length of the elongate slot 154, the bearing member 140 may move up and down, as shown in FIG. 5, transverse to the slot between the arms 116 and 118.

In the upper arm 116, between the plates 102 and 104, are a pair of gusset plates 158 and 160, which are preferably welded between the plates 102 and 104. Between the gusset plates 158 and 160 there is a nut 162, which may be welded to the gusset plates 158 and 160. A turn screw 164 is threaded in the nut 162, and has a transverse handle 166 at its upper end. The lower end of the turn screw 164 will bear against the transverse bar 156, to force the bearing member 140 against a plate of a bucket, when positioned in the slot between the arms 116 and 118.

To lock the turn screw 164 in position, so as to secure it against loosening under vibrational forces, the turn screw 164 is provided with a disk or star wheel 170, shown in plan form in FIG. 7, and including a plurality of teeth 172, between which are openings 174. In the preferred form, there are eleven teeth 172 and eleven openings 174, although it will understood that other numbers of teeth and openings may be provided, and that the disk need not be shaped as a star wheel, but can take other shapes, having openings therein.

As shown in FIG. 6, a pair of sockets 176 and 178 are secured to the inner walls of the plates 104 and 102, respectively, these sockets 176 and 178 preferably being in the form of tubes, which are suitably welded to the plates 102 and 104. The axes of the sockets or tubes 176 and 178 are shown to be parallel to the axis of turn screw 164, and this is the preferred construction. Also.

the sockets 176 and 178 are shown spaced from the gusset plate 160, but may in practice be adjacent thereto, for additional support and interbracing.

A removable pin 180 is provided, shaped and sized to fit into the openings 174 of star wheel 170, and to be received in the sockets 176, or 178. Due to the provision of multiplicity of openings in the disk or star wheel 170, and the provision of two sockets on the upper arm 116, a great range of adjustment is provided for the turn screw 164, so that it may be locked in almost any position thereof, depending upon the thickness and resiliency of the plate ofa bucket to which the attachment 100 is secured.

In use, the turn screw 164 is initially positioned, so as to permit movement of the bearing member 140, through movement of the bar 156 and the elongate slot 154. Then the lower plate ofa bucket is moved into the slot between the arms 116 and 118 of the attachment 100, striking the rider bar 152 and causing any necessary upward movement of the bearing member 140. Then the lower face of the lower plate of the bucket will rest upon the bearing bars 132 and 134, as in the embodiment of FIGS. l-4, and the bearing member 140 will rest against the upper surface of the bucket plateqThen, with the pin 180 removed, the turn screw 164 is rotated so that clamping force is applied to the bucket plate through the screw 164, the bar 156, the plates 142, 144 and 146 and the bars 148 and 150 of bearing member 140. The turn screw 164 is then tightened as much as possible, and one of the openings 174 of the disk or star wheel 170 is or is caused to be in alignment with one of the sockets 176 or 178.-The locking pin 180 is then inserted, passing into one of the sockets through one of the openings, to thereby lock the turn screw 164 against loosening.

There have been provided attachments for a bucket of earth working equipment which may be quickly removed from the bucket thereof. The present invention attachments are useable with any of a number of multiple tools, such as pneumatic hammers, scraper blades, etc., and with the present invention attachments no modification of the earth working equipment bucket is required. Further, no hand tools are required to effect attachment and disengagement of the present invention attachment apparatus, and positive locking of the attachment to the bucket is maintained and assured. The carriers of the present invention may have the tool either permanently or removably attached to them.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and therefore the invention is not limited to what is shown in the drawings and described in the specification but only as indicated in the appended claims.

1 claim:

1. Apparatus for attaching alternately useable tools to the bucket of an earth working machine comprising:

a. means for defining a generally C-shaped structure comprising a pair of spaced arms having a slot between them for reception of a plate of a bucket in the slot, said means comprising a pair of spaced parallel plates each of generally C-shape,

b. bearing means,

c. means movably carried by one said arm and supporting said bearing means for moving said bearing means toward and away from said other arm,

(1. bearing bar means extending transversely of said slot and attached to said other arm,

e. and means on said structure for supporting a tool.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, said last mentioned means comprising an opening extending transversely through said structure.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, said last mentioned means comprising bar means secured to and extending transversely of said structure.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, said means supporting said bearing means comprising a threaded rod, and handle means at the upper end of said rod.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, said handle comprising a first member transversely to said rod, an extension member, and means pivotally connecting said extension member to said first member for movement between a first position generally axially aligned with said first member and a second position generally parallel to said rod.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, said means supporting said bearing means comprising a threaded rod, and means for connecting said bearing means to said rod and for permitting said bearing means to move angularly relative to said rod with the axis thereof maintained generally parallel to the plane of said structure.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, said bearing means comprising resilient means for engaging a said bucket plate.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, said bearing means comprising resilient means for engaging a said bucket plate.

9. Apparatus for use with an earth working machine having an earth working bucket comprising:

a. means defining a generally C-shaped structure comprising a pair of spaced arms having a slot between them for reception of a plate of a bucket in the slot,

b. bearing means,

c. means movably carried by one said arm and supporting said bearing means for moving said bearing means toward and away from said other arm,

d. means on said structure for supporting a tool, and

e. an earth working tool means supported on said structure by said last mentioned means, said earth working tool means being any one of a plurality of different earth working tool means each having substantially identical means for cooperating with said last mentioned means.

10. Apparatus for attaching alternately useable tools to the bucket of an earth working machine comprising: 50 a. means defining a generally C-shaped structure comprising a pair of spaced arms having a slot between them for reception of a plate of a bucket in the slot, and comprising a pair of spaced parallel plates each of generally C-shape,

b. bearing means,

c. means movably carried by one said arm and supporting said bearing means for moving said bearing means toward and away from said other arm comprising a threaded rod, and

d. handle means for said rod comprising a first member fastened to said rod transversely thereof, an extension member having a thickness less than the spacing between said plates, means pivotally connecting said extension member to said first member for movement between a first position generally axially aligned with said first member to enable rotation of said rod and a second position generally parallel to said rod to thereby extend between said plates and limit rotation of said rod.

11. Apparatus for attaching alternately useable tools to the bucket of an earth working machine comprising:

a. means defining a generally C-shaped structure comprising a pair of spaced arms having a slot between them for reception of a plate of a bucket in the slot,

b. bearing means,

c. means on one said arm for supporting said bearing means for movement towards and away from said other arm, comprising an elongate aperture in said one arm, and a cross bar extending through said aperture and secured to said bearing means,

d. adjustable means carried by said one arm for urging said bearing means against a bucket plate in said slot,

e. bearing bar means extending transversely of said slot and attached to said other arm, and

f. means on said structure for supporting a tool.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said bearing comprises a plurality of spaced parallel plates lying in planes spaced from said C-shaped structure.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, said bearing means plates having bearing bars transversely thereof adjacent said other arm, and a rider bar extending therebetween.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said means defining said C-shaped structure comprises a pair of spaced, parallel C-shaped plates, and said bearing means comprises a first plate therebetween and a pair of outer plates outwardly thereof.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, said adjustable means comprising a nut carried by said one arm and a screw threadedly engaged therein and engageable with said bearing means.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, and means for selectively locking said screw in one of a plurality of positions thereof.

17. Apparatus for attaching alternately useable tools to the bucket of an earth working machine comprising:

a. means defining a generally C-shaped structure comprising a pair of spaced arms having a slot between them for reception of a plate of a bucket in the slot,

b. bearing means,

c. means including said bearing means and a screw acting thereon for clamping a plate of a bucket in said slot between said bearing means and the other arm of said structure, and

d. means for locking said screw in a selected position thereof comprising a plate secured to said screw having a plurality of circumferentially spaced openings, socket means carried by said structure, and pin means in said socket means and a said opening.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said socket means comprises a plurality of laterally spaced sockets and said pin means in one said socket and a said openmg. 

1. Apparatus for attaching alternately useable tools to the bucket of an earth working machine comprising: a. means for defining a generally C-shaped structure comprising a pair of spaced arms having a slot between them for reception of a plate of a bucket in the slot, said means comprising a pair of spaced parallel plates each of generally C-shape, b. bearing means, c. means movably carried by one said arm and supporting said bearing means for moving said bearing means toward and away from said other arm, d. bearing bar means extending transversely of said slot and attached to said other arm, e. and means on said structure for supporting a tool.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, said last mentioned means comprising an opening extending transversely through said structure.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, said last mentioned means comprising bar means secured to and extending transversely of said structure.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, said means supporting said bearing means comprising a threaded rod, and handle means at the upper end of said rod.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4, said handle comprising a first member transversely to said rod, an extension member, and means pivotally connecting said extension member to said first member for movement between a first position generally axially aligned with said first member and a second position generally parallel to said rod.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1, said means supporting said bearing means comprising a threaded rod, and means for connecting said bearing means to said rod and for permitting said bearing means to move angularly relative to said rod with the axis thereof maintained generally parallel to the plane of said structure.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6, said bearing means comprising resilient means for engaging a said bucket plate.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1, said bearing means comprising resilient means for engaging a said bucket plate.
 9. Apparatus for use with an earth working machine having an earth working bucket comprising: a. means defining a generally C-shaped structure comprising a pair of spaced arms having a slot between them for reception of a plate of a bucket in the slot, b. bearing means, c. means movably carried by one said arm and supporting said bearing means for moving said bearing means toward and away from said other arm, d. means on said structure for supporting a tool, and e. an earth working tool means supported on said structure by said last mentioned means, said earth working tool means being any one of a plurality of different earth working tool means each having substantially identical means for cooperating with said last mentioned means.
 10. Apparatus for attaching alternately useable tools to the bucket of an earth working machine comprising: a. means defining a generallY C-shaped structure comprising a pair of spaced arms having a slot between them for reception of a plate of a bucket in the slot, and comprising a pair of spaced parallel plates each of generally C-shape, b. bearing means, c. means movably carried by one said arm and supporting said bearing means for moving said bearing means toward and away from said other arm comprising a threaded rod, and d. handle means for said rod comprising a first member fastened to said rod transversely thereof, an extension member having a thickness less than the spacing between said plates, means pivotally connecting said extension member to said first member for movement between a first position generally axially aligned with said first member to enable rotation of said rod and a second position generally parallel to said rod to thereby extend between said plates and limit rotation of said rod.
 11. Apparatus for attaching alternately useable tools to the bucket of an earth working machine comprising: a. means defining a generally C-shaped structure comprising a pair of spaced arms having a slot between them for reception of a plate of a bucket in the slot, b. bearing means, c. means on one said arm for supporting said bearing means for movement towards and away from said other arm, comprising an elongate aperture in said one arm, and a cross bar extending through said aperture and secured to said bearing means, d. adjustable means carried by said one arm for urging said bearing means against a bucket plate in said slot, e. bearing bar means extending transversely of said slot and attached to said other arm, and f. means on said structure for supporting a tool.
 12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said bearing comprises a plurality of spaced parallel plates lying in planes spaced from said C-shaped structure.
 13. The apparatus of claim 12, said bearing means plates having bearing bars transversely thereof adjacent said other arm, and a rider bar extending therebetween.
 14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said means defining said C-shaped structure comprises a pair of spaced, parallel C-shaped plates, and said bearing means comprises a first plate therebetween and a pair of outer plates outwardly thereof.
 15. The apparatus of claim 11, said adjustable means comprising a nut carried by said one arm and a screw threadedly engaged therein and engageable with said bearing means.
 16. The apparatus of claim 15, and means for selectively locking said screw in one of a plurality of positions thereof.
 17. Apparatus for attaching alternately useable tools to the bucket of an earth working machine comprising: a. means defining a generally C-shaped structure comprising a pair of spaced arms having a slot between them for reception of a plate of a bucket in the slot, b. bearing means, c. means including said bearing means and a screw acting thereon for clamping a plate of a bucket in said slot between said bearing means and the other arm of said structure, and d. means for locking said screw in a selected position thereof comprising a plate secured to said screw having a plurality of circumferentially spaced openings, socket means carried by said structure, and pin means in said socket means and a said opening.
 18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said socket means comprises a plurality of laterally spaced sockets and said pin means in one said socket and a said opening. 